Location: Top 10 Rifles for the Apocalypse

Discussion: When it comes to the mini-14...

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SovietPrince	When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 4 2010, 6:04 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 4 2010, 6:04 PM EDT with all due respect to Ruger's design, which is good.. The rifle was never built to be a combat rifle.. Its a ranch rifle for a reason.. Anyway, what caused me to post is this: The rifle isn't inexpensive, as it says on the main page. what is it? somewhere between 700-900USD? another issue involved is that the only quality accesories you can get(and theres alot but..) they are all from Ruger ONLY. the only reliability you get from the rifle is when you buy factory mags, which are what? 40-50 bucks a piece? Anyway, Its not a weapon to be used as a fighting rifle. It can be but, the options lower in the list were quite better than the mini14.. anyway, if you want to comprehend where I'm coming from.. here's personal opinion/actual experience from MrLockandLoad(a very very respectable and respectful gentlemen.. the second half of the vid is about the SKS btw) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnIIj9tyxBk Post reply Do you find this valuable? Keyword tags: apocalypse guns rifles survival top weapons zombie
2WheeledSpeed	1. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 4 2010, 6:40 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 4 2010, 6:41 PM EDT Is that guy where you're getting all your info about the Mini for? I could barely sit through his rant, which is all it was, just some guy ranting in his bedroom about a gun he doesn't like. I could just as easily find people who support the Mini-14 on Youtube. The Marlin, Kel-Tec, and Remington 700 weren't designed as combat weapons either. The list is more about realistic survival weapons, rather than combat weapons. The Mini is a very reliable, simple, and effective rifle that is widely available. I got my Mini used for 600, with accessories. They are easy to find for less. There are plenty of quality accesories for it, perhaps not as many as for the AR... But what do you want the rifle to do? If you need rails out the wazoo, buy an AR! I'm happy with just a scope and a bipod, possibly a light someday. As for mags, there ARE quality aftermarket mags for the Mini (Reasonably priced too!), no matter what that guy says. But you do have to be careful, the only reason I've ever seen Minis fail is because of cheap aftermarket mags. But since pretty much any gun will fail with bad magazines, how can you hold that against the Mini? Your choice of weapon comes down to personal preference, what feels best to you and what you want the weapon to do. People will argue over the "Best" combat rifle until heck freezes over, I won't claim my Mini will beat an AR or AK but My Mini-14 does what I expect it to do, and it does it all day long. Unashamed Mini owner. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
OutlawJames	2. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 4 2010, 6:56 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 4 2010, 7:18 PM EDT "Is that guy where you're getting all your info about the Mini for? I could barely sit through his rant, which is all it was, just some guy ranting in his bedroom about a gun he doesn't like. The Marlin, Kel-Tec, and Remington 700 weren't designed as combat weapons either. The list is more about realistic survival weapons, rather than combat weapons. The Mini is a very reliable, simple, and effective rifle that is widely available. I got my Mini used for 600, with accessories. They are easy to find for less. There are plenty of quality accesories for it, perhaps not as many as for the AR... But what do you want the rifle to do? As for mags, there ARE quality aftermarket mags for the Mini (Reasonably priced too!), no matter what that guy says. But you do have to be careful, the only reason I've ever seen Minis fail is because of cheap aftermarket mags. But since pretty much any gun will fail with bad magazines, how can you hold that against the Mini? Your choice of weapon comes down to personal preference, what feels best to you and what you want the weapon to do. People will argue over the "Best" combat rifle until heck freezes over, I won't claim my Mini will beat an AR or AK but My Mini-14 does what I expect it to do, and it does it all day long. Unashamed Mini owner." Plus..if you think a rifle needs accessories to be useful as a battle rifle, then that means its even less useful stock, than " In you opinion" the Mini-14. As far as mags go, I have some graphite polymer mags that have never failed. So that disproves the statement that ONLY Ruger mags are reliable. I like 2Wheel only have a scope and, sometimes a bipod on mine, and it does everthing I ask of it. I got mine for quite a bit less, but I am old and have had it a long time ago. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Filadog	3. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 4 2010, 7:00 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 4 2010, 7:00 PM EDT I've had mini 14s and I've had ARs and I think the only reason to get a mini 14 is if you are on a budget and get a real good deal on one I would be curious to hear a real advantage a Mini 14 has over an AR Years ago a mini 14 was alot cheaper then an AR so lots got sold. Now as prices have gone down on ARs I bet less and less are getting bought. Ruger even makes an AR style rifle now. I wouldn't be surprised if the Mini 14 days are numbered Like I said I've had a couple Mini 14 and they are "OK".....just not an AR Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Game_Face	4. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 4 2010, 7:22 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 4 2010, 7:22 PM EDT I looked at Mini-14s and decided on an AR instead. The price difference isn't that great and I had big dreams of pimping out an AR. If I had the choice between an Mini-14 and a M1 Carbine in .30 cal, I'd choose the Carbine. My father owns one and they're great little guns. He buys his rounds from Midway and the recoil is light. If you like Mini-14s it'd be a good idea to try a M1 Carbine and see how you like it. You just might be surprised. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
OutlawJames	5. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 4 2010, 7:22 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 4 2010, 7:22 PM EDT " I think the only reason to get a mini 14 is if you are on a budget and get a real good deal on one Years ago a mini 14 was alot cheaper then an AR so lots got sold. Now as prices have gone down on ARs I bet less and less are getting bought. Ruger even makes an AR style rifle now. I wouldn't be surprised if the Mini 14 days are numbered Like I said I've had a couple Mini 14 and they are "OK".....just not an AR" I have to agree, I would never pay what they are asking for a new one now. I payed less than 2 bills for mine brand new. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
SasquatchJim	6. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 4 2010, 7:31 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 4 2010, 7:31 PM EDT The final answer to the AR vs. Mini-14 debate. Get an M1A Post reply Do you find this valuable?
SovietPrince	7. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 6 2010, 1:31 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 6 2010, 1:31 PM EDT "Is that guy where you're getting all your info about the Mini for? I could barely sit through his rant, " well thats the thing, you didn't sit through his damn 'rant' as you called it. He's had a mini14 before, hes done his fair shooting of it, and he liked it but.. the fact of the matter is, you don't want a gun thats "alright" or "will get the job done". you want a fighting rifle that can be cheap, have cheap ammunition, and so on. so far I only see 2 fighting calibers and 1 sniper caliber: -.223Rem -7.62x39mm -7.62x54r(as a sniper round) Now, you're thinking, and i know you are.. "this guy don't know sh*t" well i do. i regularly cheap ammunition prices on different sites and compare prices to the different compositions of bullets. I personally never would advocate any of those .308 rifles on the list as fighting rifles because well... hmm.. how many .308 rounds can you get for 240 bucks(average)? I know for the same price, I can get 1000 rounds for an ak. not to say EVERYONE needs an ak, but its a fact of budget and such. I'm sorry if you have so much cash that you can stockpile .308 or any other caliber. (yes i know im ranting about a caliber that has nothing to do with what i OP'ed) you wanna survive through the apoc? a cheap, stockpilable caliber, and a reliable weapon is what you should look for. note1: accesories primarily meant magazines.. they are afterall, accesories to the rifle itself. note2: i did my own research aas well, but, if you had sat through the 'rant', you'd see that i linked that vid because he brings out some very unbiased points. and, in my own research, you can't get a thick barrel on a mini14, can you? you can on an AR or AK. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
LJ126	8. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 6 2010, 2:04 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 6 2010, 2:05 PM EDT The Mini-14 is simply a scaled-down M14, hence the "Mini." To say that the Mini-14 isn't a capable combat rifle is like saying the M14 isn't a capable combat rifle... if it wasn't, you wouldn't see them in the field now, and one of my best friends fielded one as a SDM in Iraq a few years ago. Also, have you heard of a rifle called the AC-556? It's a select-fire Mini-14 specifically developed for use by military and police units. While I agree, the Mini-14 "ranch rifle" variant doesn't look like a military rifle, most of that is due simply to the design of the stock. It's toned down appearance could actually be beneficial in a survival situation, as it is less threatening in appearance. I do agree that the magazine thing is silly. The only truly reliable ones are from Ruger, and they're very expensive... ideally, the Mini-14 would use STANAG magazines. That all being said, the Mini-14 isn't my first choice because you can purchase an inexpensive AR-15 for what the Mini-14 costs... or you can buy a WASR-10 and a bunch of ammo. Take your pick... I've made mine. Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
2WheeledSpeed	9. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 6 2010, 2:38 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 6 2010, 2:38 PM EDT I and other Mini owners will not claim that our rifle is the best in it's class, because it's not. But as per your requirements, the Mini is a reliable weapon, in a common caliber (.223), and it's priced somewhere between AKs and ARs. And it's seen use as a combat/police weapon, though not nearly as much as ARs and AKs have. Why do I need a thick barrel on my weapon? To improve accuracy on a short barreled carbine? If I wanted a more accurate weapon, I'd buy a more accurate weapon. So that my barrel is harder to break? A thicker barrel adds weight, I don't want more weight, if I slam my rifle against a tree I'll accept the consequences. If you don't like the Mini, don't buy it! I won't cry. It's not the "best", but I don't care. It fulfills the role I need it to. And it fulfills the role of a post z-day survival rifle, which is why it was voted onto that list. Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
SasquatchJim	10. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 6 2010, 2:41 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 6 2010, 2:41 PM EDT " Why do I need a thick barrel on my weapon? To improve accuracy on a short barreled carbine? If I wanted a more accurate weapon, I'd buy a more accurate weapon. So that my barrel is harder to break? A thicker barrel adds weight, I don't want more weight, if I slam my rifle against a tree I'll accept the consequences. " Well, if you're going to be shooting a lot, it keeps heat down. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
2WheeledSpeed	11. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 6 2010, 3:36 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 6 2010, 3:36 PM EDT "Well, if you're going to be shooting a lot, it keeps heat down." I forgot that, but it's another sacrifice I have to make by choosing a lightweight carbine. You don't get something for nothing. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
SovietPrince	12. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 6 2010, 6:59 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 6 2010, 6:59 PM EDT "I forgot that, but it's another sacrifice I have to make by choosing a lightweight carbine. You don't get something for nothing." Alright now I'm respecting everyone's opinions as they're all good but(and i may get yelled at but i really don't see the difference) besides the plus' with accuracy and heat reduction, whats a few more ounces or a pound, hell even two? now, another thing i'll point out is that, for example with the ak, most weigh what? between 7-9 pounds?(hope im right) now each steel banana mag is 11 ounces, and that can add to alot of weight. So you reduce your reliability by getting a thinner barrel, polymer mags, and so on. Cool. The thing is.. (and this is very serious) You face an apocalypse.. a time of unprecedented destruction, violence, hell, etc. Those few extra pounds of equipment you have, versus someone with a rifle that has a heavier barrel, more durable mags.. etc. I'm not trying to get into an argument over the mini-14 as much, and i know that weight can become an extreme b*tch after a long while of carrying it.. it'll feel heavier after a bit of time and if you try and pull that rifle from its carrying position in your arms to aiming position, you're bound to be slower if its a heavier gun. IMO though, something serious happens, I want a gun and mags and other gear that can last years. With that said.. true the mini-14 can be a good weapon. i actually looked up this ac556 variant and well.. me likey! Anywho.. anyone who has watched NutnFancy(no argues or opinions) but he reviewed some mini14 30 rounders from tapco.. yall know the story there but, i think someday(if there aint already a good brand) there will be a brand that has lightweight mags with durable lip feeds and retention tabs that don't wear down like polymer mags tend to.. Eh.. Lemme look a bit at the ac556 for a while now haha Post reply Do you find this valuable?
John_234	13. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 6 2010, 7:19 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 6 2010, 7:19 PM EDT "I and other Mini owners will not claim that our rifle is the best in it's class, because it's not. But as per your requirements, the Mini is a reliable weapon, in a common caliber (.223), and it's priced somewhere between AKs and ARs. And it's seen use as a combat/police weapon, though not nearly as much as ARs and AKs have. Why do I need a thick barrel on my weapon? To improve accuracy on a short barreled carbine? If I wanted a more accurate weapon, I'd buy a more accurate weapon. So that my barrel is harder to break? A thicker barrel adds weight, I don't want more weight, if I slam my rifle against a tree I'll accept the consequences. If you don't like the Mini, don't buy it! I won't cry. It's not the "best", but I don't care. It fulfills the role I need it to. And it fulfills the role of a post z-day survival rifle, which is why it was voted onto that list." Personally, I don't like operating on the edge of operational capacity, be it durability (dinging the light barrel) or performance (losing the accuracy after several rounds in a row). Some level of redundancy is just good for us flawed humans. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
demsmine	14. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 6 2010, 8:21 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 6 2010, 8:21 PM EDT Some people think a mini 14 is bad, I just put a bid on a Kel Tec Su 16 on gunbroker last night. Moral,,, beer + Gunbroker= pissed wife.XD Post reply Do you find this valuable?
SovietPrince	15. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 6 2010, 11:20 PM EDT "Some people think a mini 14 is bad, I just put a bid on a Kel Tec Su 16 on gunbroker last night. Moral,,, beer + Gunbroker= pissed wife.XD" now theres something that another guy can just ask "why?" i mean, i guess its alright to have a smaller AR style gun but, i mean, mixed reviews.. and what im concerned with most on that gun is the rumors of sights breaking off.. But, whatever. Your wife gonna get over it?!?!?!?1 Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Wolf147	16. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 6 2010, 11:23 PM EDT "now theres something that another guy can just ask "why?" i mean, i guess its alright to have a smaller AR style gun but, i mean, mixed reviews.. and what im concerned with most on that gun is the rumors of sights breaking off.. But, whatever. Your wife gonna get over it?!?!?!?1" The only model that had that issue was the first model of the kel tec su16 because it had a plastic sight,, but on the B and C models they have a metal one similar to the AR, they are piston operated and pretty reliable, there are super light weight and has great accuracy. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
demsmine	17. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 7 2010, 3:09 AM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 7 2010, 3:09 AM EDT "now theres something that another guy can just ask "why?" i mean, i guess its alright to have a smaller AR style gun but, i mean, mixed reviews.. and what im concerned with most on that gun is the rumors of sights breaking off.. But, whatever. Your wife gonna get over it?!?!?!?1" Who cares,,,, we got a comfortable couch.XD No just kidding , luckily I got outbid today. Now I'm going to to try and get a a Yugo SKS really cheap. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
SovietPrince	18. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 7 2010, 3:46 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 7 2010, 3:46 PM EDT "The only model that had that issue was the first model of the kel tec su16 because it had a plastic sight,, but on the B and C models they have a metal one similar to the AR, they are piston operated and pretty reliable, there are super light weight and has great accuracy." oh well thanks for that tip =) @demsmine: If you are thinking of getting an SKS and converting it for banana ak mag feeds.. just get a cheap ak. I mean, if you're going for the way it was meant to be loaded(stripper clips, and a capacity of 10) thats all good. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
John_234	19. RE: When it comes to the mini-14... Sep 7 2010, 4:40 PM EDT \| Post edited: Sep 7 2010, 4:40 PM EDT "oh well thanks for that tip =) @demsmine: If you are thinking of getting an SKS and converting it for banana ak mag feeds.. just get a cheap ak. I mean, if you're going for the way it was meant to be loaded(stripper clips, and a capacity of 10) thats all good. " Looks less aggressive, passes by some laws and is more accurate. Plenty of reasons to go and do it. I've always wanted an SKS-D, personally. Post reply Do you find this valuable?

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Location: Top 10 Rifles for the Apocalypse

Discussion: When it comes to the mini-14...

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